Thomas GARMIER

After having spent seven years at GL Events and seven others at Accor, Thomas Garmier, a Vatel ‘99 alumnus, decides to start his own business in April, 2014.Less than two years after, his company employs six people, is leading twenty hotel development projects throughout the world and just keeps on growing. Here’s his Success Story!

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After having had several summer jobs in hotels, a career in the hospitality industry became a natural goal for Thomas to reach:

“Naturally, I applied to Vatel, attracted by its concept where theoretical courses were followed by practical application courses in the School’s restaurants.

Many professionals in the field told me about the high quality of courses, internship opportunities in famous hotels, as well as Vatel’s reputation, and all of this really confirmed my choice.”

This was my springboard towards my career: I started out as a Project Manager where I was in charge of hotel reservations for events the group organized.

Then I was quickly promoted as a Branch Manager, Market Leader, and finally, Head of Development.

I worked for seven years at GL Events before starting with another giant: Accor group as the ‘Vice President Hotel Equipment Services’ where I was in charge of support in renovating and rebuilding the group’s hotels, all brands included. Five years later, I was promoted as the ‘Vice President Services Support Operations,’ and I particpated in the group’s economic brand changes.

Here my role was to support the transformation of Etap Hotel and All Seasons to Ibis Budget and Ibis Style to create the Ibis family, which now has nearly 1,600 hotels in 82 different countries. After a successful integration of the first 200 hotels, I decided to pursue an old dream, that of creating my own company.”

Right time, right experience and an opportunity

A Vatel alumnus, a well-known school itself founded by a visionary man and with 15 years of experience in leading international groups, I was very credible in creating my own company, and the profession supported me.

Launched on April 1st, 2014, The Great Hospitality accompanies hotel owners throughout the world in their development projects. Our job is to schedule, quote, identify, optimize, purchase, deliver and install all of the equipment.”

Vatel is proud to support the Lyon Contemporary Art Biennial, and through it, artists who portray an ever-changing world. An opportunity to remember that when contemporary art and hospitality join hands, this is a fruitful and plural event.